Justice?!
by Dale Ratzlaff
I watched the judge make the declaration, “The court finds you not guilty.” I beheld Casey Anthony’s face as the mixed emotions of shock, utter astonishment and unbelievable joy at the courts verdict sank into her thinking. At one moment she stood before the judge stoic, expecting to be sentenced to death. In the next she was declared “not guilty”. As the realization of what this verdict meant to her slowly permeated her thinking her countenance was transformed before our very eyes.
Many of us watching the proceedings were not sure that she really was “not guilty”. The evidence, admittedly circumstantial, presented by the prosecuting attorneys indicated to many that she really was guilty. The likelihood that she killed her little Caylee is high.[1] However, regardless of the facts of the case, the court pronounced her not guilty and therefore she is not guilty. The court’s verdict stands.
As I contemplated the meaning of the courts final verdict, my thoughts went to the verdict of our Father who pronounces us “not guilty” the moment we respond to God’s offer of Salvation. While there are similarities between the Casey Anthony verdict and God’s verdict there are vast differences of major import.
Similarities:
· Assuming that Casey Anthony really did kill Caylee, we are just as guilty as she is. We have five counts against us. We are (1) sinners by action,[2] (2), sinners by thought,[3] (3) sinners by lack of faith,[4] (4) sinners by neglect,[5] and (5) sinners by nature.[6]
· Regardless of our sin, the verdict of not guilty stands. The judged pronounced Casey not guilty, she is considered not guilty. God declares us not guilty.[7] Who are we to argue with the divine verdict? Rather we are to consider ourselves to be not guilty.[8]
· As the realization of what the verdict of “not guilty” means, it slowly transforms our lives.
Difference:
· Justice was not done for the death of little Caylee. She was killed and her killer remains free. It is here that heavenly and earthly justices are poles apart. Like Casey WE go free at the verdict of “not guilty”. But TRUE justice is done in that our wrong doing—all of our sin—was placed upon Christ our SUBSTITUTE who received the verdict of “guilty on all counts” on our behalf and endured the full punishment for ALL our wrongdoing,[9] past, present and future.[10]
· Casey Anthony’s verdict of not guilty only covers the specific past charges brought against her. If other past crimes come to light, she can be convicted of them. If, in the future, she violates the law and commits a crime, it will be held against her. We remember the trial of O.J. Simpson who was also declared “not guilty” by the Judge. However, he is now behind bars because he committed further crimes. His nature was not changed. However, for those who are in Christ, the verdict of God not only deals with ALL our past crimes it also covers all our future sins as well![11]
· We saw the visible results on the face of Casey Anthony at the verdict of not guilty. However, without the transforming power of the Spirit we wonder about her future. As believers the good news is that not only are our past sins forgiven, blotted out for good,[12] but our future is also secured, not by our behavior, but by the life and death of our Substitute. The verdict of Justification by faith not only takes care of ALL our past sin—yes even forgotten sins—but it also imputes to us the very righteousness of God. [13] Also, we contemplate the wonders of God’s mercy and grace given to us who have been reborn by the Spirit; we are changed by the Spirit of God working in our lives.[14]
There are many who question the justice of the court’s decision regarding Casey Anthony. However, God’s justice in the way the He has dealt with sin has been settled once for all time. When Christ cried out in anguish, “It is done.” It was done. Divine justice was settled. The atonement was complete.
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:21-26).
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